It's a small world in Plymouth

Clarence Whitney built a replica of his Whitman amusement park, King's Castle Land, in the basement of his home.

By Maureen McCarthyFor The Enterprise

The enchanted gates of King’s Castle Land in Whitman were once the gateway to a magical world brimming with cotton candy, fire-breathing dragons, a towering 22-foot statue of Paul Bunyan and dozens of child-inspired amusements and rides.
Though the seven-acre family theme park located on Route 18 closed to the public two decades ago, the spirit of King’s Castle Land and all its charm and wonder live on with the park’s owner, Clarence Whitney, 84, as well as in the hearts and minds of thousands of former park patrons.
“As I look back, I had no idea how many people we were pleasing each and every day,” said Whitney who, along with his family, operated the park from 1968 until it closed in 1994. “Everywhere I go, I am overwhelmed when I hear how much people enjoyed it.”
Following the park’s closure, Whitney retired and quietly dedicated time to preserving his theme park dream. Through the years, he created numerous King’s Castle Land scrapbooks while collecting miniature replicas of the park’s rides and amusements.
In 2011, the “big kid at heart” turned the swelling collection into a “dream come true,” he said, and began construction of a miniature version of the beloved park he and his family called home for nearly three decades.
“This is a labor of love,” Whitney said as he showcased the intricacies of his theme park masterpiece.
The 12-by-6-foot, awe-inspiring replica is located in the basement of Whitney’s Plymouth home and meticulously and lovingly depicts King’s Castle Land and all its childlike beauty.
While touring the miniature replication, Whitney said his list of favored attractions is long but includes the reproduction of the park’s Ferris wheel and mystical carousel, the once-gripping “Tilt-A-Whirl” ride and the scream-invoking “Dragon Coaster.”
Serving as the park’s hub is a replica of the refreshment house. Here, two Whitney family photos are draped strategically across the miniature building featuring Whitney; his wife, Paula; sons Ron, Dana, Larry and Edward and daughter, Jan, and serving as a centerpiece.
“My favorite aspect (of the park) was seeing my children grow up in the family business and their dedication to it,” said Paula, Whitney’s wife of 64 years.
Their amusement park journey began in 1968 when Whitney, owner of Brockton-based Hideaway Toy Store, purchased King’s Castle Land and relocated the toy business on the Bedford Street property.
“The goal was to bring together two businesses that complimented each other and keep our staff on a year-round basis,” he said.
But King’s Castle Land was not simply a family owned business, it was a homestead.
The Whitneys, a family of seven, lived onsite in one home while Whitney’s parents also resided on the property in a second home.
Each family member supported the business and fluidly weaved in and out of a variety of positions from cook and candy-maker to mechanic, ticket-taker, toy store manager and more.
“As a family business, each of us did whatever the particular day called for us to do,” said Whitney’s daughter, Jan Meehan, 60. “It was a total family effort.”
Throughout its iconic reign, King’s Castle Land employed hundreds of young people from the area – and each and every young person profoundly contributed to the park's success, Whitney said.
“They brought us such a wonderful spirit of youth and all were such good kids,” he said.
But, like other regional theme parks of its era, King’s Castle Land felt the effects of the economy and the surge of new competition.
During the early 1990s, toy stores like Child World and others were closing with larger chains emerging. Of equal impact was consumer accessibility to local outposts of nationwide chains of amusements and attractions.
This change in the fiscal climate impacted King’s Castle Land.
“We talked with kids and discussed the condition of the market – it was time to let it go,” Whitney said.
“The decision to close the park was most difficult,” said Ron Whitney, 58. “They just don’t make places like it anymore and we knew that it would be a lost treasure once it closed.”
In 1994, the Whitney family liquidated park assets and sold the land.
Today, Stop & Shop and a neighboring carpet retailer stand where the enchanted King’s Castle Land once stood.
“King’s Castle surely was a positive asset to the small town of Whitman, which is why thousands of people traveled to spend time there,” said June O’Leary, a longtime Whitman resident. “Families picnicked; children laughed and ran around a secure area filled with fantasy.”
And the memories of the Route 18 childhood fantasy land live on social media.
In recent years, a King’s Castle Land Facebook page was launched and is now host to a multitude of photos and nostalgic quotes from the once young park-goers turned adult.
Each story shared on social media truly touches Whitney’s heart, he said.
“What a wonderful feeling it is to know that we provided entertainment to so many families and the fond memories that they continue to enjoy after all these years,” he said.
Whitney is proud of the business he and his family built and the joy it brought to so many.
“Now I am living out (another) dream, having recreated King’s Castle Land in miniature (form),” he said.